THE dentistry arm of the NHS has got to the stage where it is beyond a joke.

With no dentists taking on any new NHS patients, we are faced with one of two options.

These are to go private and pay through the nose (or should that be through the teeth) for treatment that we have already paid for via the National Insurance contributions during our working life or rely on NHS Direct once we are in pain and then wait days or even weeks before treatment is obtained.

During the 60 years that, until recently, I have been attending an NHS dentist his/her philosophy has been to fill, cap or crown the tooth and only as a last resort remove it.

Sadly the dentists at BRI and Queens Park do not follow that philosophy so a tooth that would normally be filled is now extracted.

During a recent attendance at BRI to have a tooth extracted that was beyond saving the examination revealed that I had two teeth with a tiny hole that would need filling - if I cannot find an NHS dentist.

All I can do is to wait until the holes get larger and start to cause me some pain and have them extracted.

Having them filled now would probably last me for the rest of my life.

"The ship sank for the sake of a ha'peth of tar," is the phrase that comes to mind.

Maybe it is time that an enterprising solicitor started a class action against the NHS for failing to provide proper dental treatment to those NHS patients that have a need?

In 10 years time I will probably be singing my letters with 'gummy'.

J BUCKLEY (Mr), Holden Fold, Darwen.